Interview/ Sarbananda Sonowal, Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways
THE NEW GOVERNMENT in Delhi has big plans for the Yamuna’s rejuvenation, a part of which is developing cruise tourism on the river. The government has signed an MoU with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency of the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways.
Excerpts from an interview with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal:
Q/ What is the IWAI’s roadmap for developing the river cruise on the Yamuna?
A/ With the signing of the MoU between IWAI and various departments of the Delhi government, a new chapter begins for the development of Delhi.
For promoting short-distance recreational boat tourism and ferry services, a 6km stretch of the Yamuna is being developed from Sonia Vihar (upstream of Wazirabad Barrage) to Jagatpur.
This initiative is a significant step toward making Delhi a more sustainable, eco-friendly and tourist-friendly city. It not only aids in restoring the river’s ecological balance but also improves connectivity, boosts tourism and creates economic opportunities.
Q/ How do you see inland waterways and their development impacting growth?
A/ The development of inland waterways holds great promise for transforming the logistics sector in India. By leveraging our extensive network of rivers and water bodies, we can create a sustainable, cost-effective and efficient mode of transportation for goods.
The Inland Water Transport(IWT) sector has had an unprecedented surge in terms of trade and transport in the past decade. There has been a 767 per cent increase in the number of operational national waterways, 635 per cent increase in the volume of cargo handled on national waterways, and a rise of 62 per cent in multimodal terminals, with a 233 per cent increase in investments in national waterways.
Cargo traffic on national waterways has witnessed exponential growth in the last 10 years―from 18 million tonnes a decade ago to 133 million tonnes in 2023-24.
Inland waterways also hold significant promise for the tourism sector, offering opportunities for leisurely exploration and cruises. For example, the historic journey of MV Ganga Vilas showed the potential of cruise tourism, being the ‘World’s Longest River Cruise’ and travelling through 27 different river systems, five states, and two countries.
Q/ Developing riverways can be a variable model for decongesting road traffic. What are the government’s plans?
A/ The commitment of the government in transforming the IWT sector goes beyond infrastructure and logistics. IWAI aims to create an ecosystem that nurtures growth, innovation and sustainability, and inland waterways will have a significant role in planning.
For the development of this sector, convergence between the Centre and the state governments is paramount. The development of the waterways as a mode of connectivity, specifically with intermodal integration, can help boost the economy by resolving existing infrastructure constraints and improving connectivity.
The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, has been introduced in the Lok Sabha and will be enacted soon. It envisages the development of a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan for the seamless integration of inland waterway routes with maritime coastal transport. The aim here is to enable the transportation of goods solely via water-based modes of transport, from inland waterways to coastal shipping routes.
Waterways have also been pivotal in elevating the lives of hinterland communities by offering an alternative and accessible mode of transport, thus fostering socioeconomic progress, empowering the local population and creating a more equitable distribution of resources and benefits across a diverse region.
IWAI has envisaged strengthening the urban water transport system to develop water metro projects across 18 cities in 12 states to replicate the Kochi Water Metro model in full or in part. IWAI will complete the feasibility studies for the same in the coming six months.